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Copyright of Ekonomika is the property of Society of Economists 'Ekonomika' and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Landraces are identified for their genetic diversity and heritage value. Geographically isolated areas are gradually recognized for their agricultural diversity and importance in conservation. One of the consequences of agricultural intensification is an increase in crop uniformity and hence a reduction in the landraces' genetic resources. Messinia, located in Southwest Peloponnese, Greece, is characterized by a diverse terrain and smallholdings. The geomorphological character of the area and farmers' selections have led to new landraces (local varieties) with unique traits and specific adaptations. A total of 110 villages/settlements were visited between 2013–2016, aiming to explore the existing wealth of landraces and the degree of genetic erosion. The genetic material collected and the testimonies extracted from local communities were compared to data from past expeditions, gene banks, and portal databases. Of the 427 collected samples, the majority belonged to annual vegetable or pulse species, indicating the genetic diversity of the groups, which was likely related to their culinary value. Perennial crops are priced both as commercial and staple crops, with olive trees dominating the agricultural landscape. Genetic erosion and production decline were noticed for cereals. It is concluded that socio-cultural and agricultural trends have a strong influence on the survival of landraces. Without exhausting the agricultural wealth of the region, the present study suggests that Messinia is an agrobiodiversity hotspot that includes neglected crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of endodormancy in the vine as an adaptation reaction to unfavourable temperature conditions, has a complex character and is the result of multiple biochemical and physiological processes that take place at the level of the tissues of the vine shoots. In this study, the adaptation and response reactions of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fetească neagră grapevine varieties to the temperatures during the dormant season in the Banu Mărăcine wine-growing centre are monitored, by following the evolution of some biochemical compounds involved in these mechanisms: evolution of free water (%), bound water (%), total water (%) and total dry matter (SUT %), as well as the evolution of carbohydrates (soluble sugar and starch) in annual and multiannual vine wood. A grouping of the analyzed varieties is made according to the storage potential of carbohydrates under the different conditions of minimum temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in the winemaking industry due to their contribution to wine sensory characteristics. Another important role in the winemaking industry have the grapevine varieties used in specific regions or countries for wine production. Due to the high variability of grapevine germplasm, grapevine varieties are as classified based on their genetic and geographical origin into genetic-geographic groups (GEN-GEO). The aim of this research was to investigate VOCs in 50 red grapevine varieties belonging to different GEN-GEO groups. The study included varieties from groups C2 (Italy and France), C7 (Croatia), and C8 (Spain and Portugal). The analysis of VOCs was performed by SPME-Arrow-GC/MS directly from grape skins. The analyzed VOCs included aldehydes, ketones, acids, alcohols, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. The most abundant VOCs were aldehydes and alcohols, while the most numerous were sesquiterpenes. The most abundant compounds, aldehydes and alcohols, were found to be (E)-2-hexenal, hexenal, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, and 1-hexanol. Using discriminant analysis, the GEN-GEO groups were separated based on their volatile profile. Some of the individual compounds contributing to the discrimination were found in relatively small amounts, such as benzoic acid, (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal, 4-pentenal, and nonanoic acid. The groups were also discriminated by their overall volatile profile: group C2 was characterized by a higher content of aldehydes and alcohols, and group C8 was characterized by a higher content of sesquiterpenes and acids. Group C7 was characterized by all low amount of all classes of VOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grape volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in the winemaking industry due to their contribution to wine sensory characteristics. Another important role in the winemaking industry have the grapevine varieties used in specific regions or countries for wine production. Due to the high variability of grapevine germplasm, grapevine varieties are as classified based on their genetic and geographical origin into genetic-geographic groups (GEN-GEO). The aim of this research was to investigate VOCs in 50 red grapevine varieties belonging to different GEN-GEO groups. The study included varieties from groups C2 (Italy and France), C7 (Croatia), and C8 (Spain and Portugal). The analysis of VOCs was performed by SPME-Arrow-GC/MS directly from grape skins. The analyzed VOCs included aldehydes, ketones, acids, alcohols, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. The most abundant VOCs were aldehydes and alcohols, while the most numerous were sesquiterpenes. The most abundant compounds, aldehydes and alcohols, were found to be (E)-2-hexenal, hexenal, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, and 1-hexanol. Using discriminant analysis, the GEN-GEO groups were separated based on their volatile profile. Some of the individual compounds contributing to the discrimination were found in relatively small amounts, such as benzoic acid, (E,E)-2,4-hexadienal, 4-pentenal, and nonanoic acid. The groups were also discriminated by their overall volatile profile: group C2 was characterized by a higher content of aldehydes and alcohols, and group C8 was characterized by a higher content of sesquiterpenes and acids. Group C7 was characterized by all low amount of all classes of VOCs.

Purpose. Grapevines (Vitis spp.) are affected by many viral diseases which cause serious pathological problems. GLRaV-3 is among the most widespread leafroll viruses, while Grapevine Fanleaf Virus (GFLV) is a destructive pathogen which reduces the lifespan of grapevine. Considering the impact and the spread of these diseases, our objective was to analyse the presence of these two viruses in several grapevine varieties in grapevine collection at ATTC Vlore. Data gathered from plant pathogens serve to better understand and prevent the spread of pathogens, as a mandatory rule for the quality control of certified plant material during vegetative propagation. Method. The presence of two common viruses were tested using virus specific primers; LC1/LC2 primer pair designed from the hHSP70 gene for detecting Grapevine Leafroll-associated Virus-3 (GLRaV3) and C3390/H2999 primer pair, designed from coat protein coding regions for detecting Grapevine Fanleaf Virus (GFLV), in six varieties; ‘Merlot’, ‘Kallmet’, ‘Shesh i zi’, ‘Shesh i bardhё’, ‘Debinё’, and ‘Pulёz’, provided through a randomised sampling procedure. One Step Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction assay was used to detect the viral presence. Results showed a high (100%) prevalence of GLRaV3 virus in all of analysed samples, as the most frequent among the two pathogens. Analysis for of GFLV virus showed low infection rate, being present in only one sample. Conclusions. We herein show an efficient, fast and reproducible method for detecting grapevine viruses through one step RT-PCR. Our results suggest that sampling of the infected plant material should be avoided due to the presence of viral infections.

A study to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of grapes from red international (Cabernet Sauvignon), local (Gamza) and hybrid (Rubin) grapevine varieties grown in the region of Central Northern Bulgaria was conducted. The phenolic content of the grapes, the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of their must were determined. Rubin shown the best content of Total Phenolic Compounds (TPC), Flavonoid Phenolic Compounds (FPC), Non-Flavonoid Phenolic Compounds (NPC) and anthocyanins in the structural elements of the cluster. This hybrid variety also shown the highest content of TPC in the must (0.74±0.00 g/l), followed by Gamza, and the lowest TPC was found in the Cabernet Sauvignon – control variety (0.25±0.00 g/l). The highest amount of anthocyanins was found in Rubin grape must (19.91±0.48 mg/l). The dynamics of increasing of the anthocyanin content in the must of the studied varieties followed the order international variety (Cabernet Sauvignon) < local variety (Gamza) < hybrid variety (Rubin). In the red varieties, the grape must of the Rubin hybrid shown significant and the highest antioxidant activity of the three studied varieties. It was four times higher than that found in the Cabernet Sauvignon control. A correlation between TPC, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity in Rubin was found. This proved the close connection between the phenolic composition and the antioxidant capacity of the variety. The study proved that the grape must of the two studied hybrid and local varieties shown high biological potential and activities.

Seed extracts are becoming more important due to their beneficial biological activities. The main constituents of seed extracts are flavan-3-ols, compounds important in winemaking. The coastal region in Croatia is rich in native grapevine varieties, which are used in wine production. The aim of the research was to analyze the flavan-3-ol profiles of 20 native varieties, and to evaluate the potential use of grape seeds as a source of flavan-3-ols. The flavan-3-ols from seeds were analyzed by HPLC. The predicted yield of flavan-3-ols was calculated using the analyzed profiles. In total, eight compounds were identified, with the most abundant compounds being catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2. In general, the red grape varieties had higher content of flavan-3-ols than the white varieties, which was confirmed by PCA. The coastal region could potentially yield up to 73.97 kg/ha of flavan-3-ols, depending on the variety. The results show the diversity of flavan-3-ol profiles among Croatian varieties and their potential usage as a source of valuable nutraceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study on the phenolic composition and antioxidant activity of white and red wines obtained from introduced (Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon), local (Dimyat, Gamza) and hybrid (Druzhba, Rubin) varieties was performed. The wines had optimal chemical parameters. Almost identical total phenolic compounds (TPC) content (700.00 ± 0.0.000 mg/dm³ and 703.33 ± 5.773 mg/dm³) in the white wines of the introduced Chardonnay variety and the local Dimyat was found. The wine of the introduced Cabernet Sauvignon showed the highest quantitative presence of TPC (1666.66 ± 5.773 mg/dm³) from the red wines group. Chardonnay wine showed the highest content of flavonoid phenolic compounds (FPC) (769.84 ± 1.833 mg/dm³), and for the red wines FPC content dominated quantitatively in Rubin (2532.40 ± 49.938 mg/dm³). The wine of the introduced Chardonnay also showed the highest content of non-flavonoid phenolic compounds (NPC) (115.78 ± 0.325 mg/dm³), and in the red wines Gamza (235.63 ± 0.498 mg/dm³) was distinguished by this indicator. The quantitative presence of anthocyanins in the studied red wines followed the order wine - introduced variety > wine - hybrid variety > wine - local variety. The highest antioxidant activity (AA) in white wines was found in Chardonnay. Gamza and Cabernet Sauvignon red wines showed a close percentage of radical scavenging activity, but it was slightly higher in the wine of the local Gamza variety. There was a correlation between the antioxidant activity of red wines and the content of NPC in them, respectively: NPC (AA) Gamza > NPC (AA) Cabernet Sauvignon > NPC (AA) Rubin. The white and red wines from introduced, local and hybrid grapevine varieties from the region of Pleven, Central Northern Bulgaria showed good and balanced phenolic accumulation capacity, resulted in optimal ability for in vitro elimination of free DPPH radicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge with reference to the grapevine tapetum has been centered on its anatomy/morphology and hardly anything at all is known about its mitotic activity throughout the microsporogenesis. The aim of this study was to ascertain the mitotic activity in tapetal cells of some grapevines (Vitis L.) broadening knowledge about this tissue and simultaneously corroborating the viability of its use as an alternative tissue for further cytogenetic studies. Young buds of 12 grapevine varieties at different meiotic stages were squashed and tapetal cells a prometaphase/metaphase scored in each meiotic stage. Mitotic activity was observed since the beginning of microsporogenesis, where it was more intense, decreasing toward tetrad. Polyploid tapetal cells arose through endomitosis while the microsporogenesis advanced. Two types of polyploid cells were evidenced, those with two or more individualized diploid chromosome groups and those with only one polyploid group. The percentage of diploid cells and of polyploid cells with two or more individualized diploid groups was higher during the first stage of microsporogenesis, though decreasing and giving way to cells with one large polyploid group as microsporogenesis moved toward tetrad. The nucleolus number was scored at interphase at different stages. Two and four nucleoli prevailed in tapetal cells at all stages except at tetrad where one large nucleolus was seen. The results showed that despite of the squashing technique applied, grapevine tapetum has a substantial amount of cells with mitotic activity with a satisfactory chromosome spreading therefore establishing an interesting alternative and promising tissue for later cytomolecular studies.

Copyright of Agriscientia is the property of Revista AgriScientia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A study to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of grapes from red international (Cabernet Sauvignon), local (Gamza) and hybrid (Rubin) grapevine varieties grown in the region of Central Northern Bulgaria was conducted. The phenolic content of the grapes, the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of their must were determined. Rubin shown the best content of Total Phenolic Compounds (TPC), Flavonoid Phenolic Compounds (FPC), Non-Flavonoid Phenolic Compounds (NPC) and anthocyanins in the structural elements of the cluster. This hybrid variety also shown the highest content of TPC in the must (0.74±0.00 g/l), followed by Gamza, and the lowest TPC was found in the Cabernet Sauvignon - control variety (0.25±0.00 g/l). The highest amount of anthocyanins was found in Rubin grape must (19.91±0.48 mg/l). The dynamics of increasing of the anthocyanin content in the must of the studied varieties followed the order international variety (Cabernet Sauvignon) < local variety (Gamza) < hybrid variety (Rubin). In the red varieties, the grape must of the Rubin hybrid shown significant and the highest antioxidant activity of the three studied varieties. It was four times higher than that found in the Cabernet Sauvignon control. A correlation between TPC, anthocyanin content and antioxidant activity in Rubin was found. This proved the close connection between the phenolic composition and the antioxidant capacity of the variety. The study proved that the grape must of the two studied hybrid and local varieties shown high biological potential and activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The domesticated grapevine spread along the Mediterranean basin from the primary Near East domestication area, where the greatest genetic diversity is found in its ancestor, the wild vine populations. Portuguese wild populations are on the southwestern fringe of the distribution of the Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi in Europe. During the last Glacial Period they became isolated from the previous continuum that had been the territory of wild vine populations. Archaeological remains of domesticated vinifera grapevines in Portugal date back from 795 Before Common Era (BCE) in the lower Tagus river basin. In this work, 258 Portuguese vinifera varieties and sylvestris plants were characterized using 261 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The study of the genetic diversity of this local germplasm, its population structure and kinship, all framed in their historical and geographical backgrounds, revealed a complex network of first-degree relationships, where only Iberian varieties are involved. Some Iberian genotypes, like Alfrocheiro (Bruñal, in Spain), Sarigo (Cayetana Blanca), Mourisco Branco (Hebén), Amaral (Caiño Bravo), and Marufo (Moravia Dulce) are ancestors of a considerable fraction of all the autochthonous analyzed varieties. A part of the diversity developed was mostly local in some cases as shown by the closeness of several varieties (Vinhos Verdes) to the wild cluster in different analyses. Besides, several evidences of introgression of domesticated germplasm into wild vines was found, substantiating the high risk of genetic contamination of the sylvestris subspecies. All these findings together to the known matching between the wild maternal lineage of the Iberian Peninsula and an important number of Portuguese grapevine varieties (chlorotype A), point out that some of these varieties derive, directly or indirectly, from originally local wild populations, supporting the possible occurrence of secondary events of local domestication, or, at least, of an introgression process of wild into cultivated grapevines.

The domesticated grapevine spread along the Mediterranean basin from the primary Near East domestication area, where the greatest genetic diversity is found in its ancestor, the wild vine populations. Portuguese wild populations are on the southwestern fringe of the distribution of the Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi in Europe. During the last Glacial Period they became isolated from the previous continuum that had been the territory of wild vine populations. Archaeological remains of domesticated vinifera grapevines in Portugal date back from 795 Before Common Era (BCE) in the lower Tagus river basin. In this work, 258 Portuguese vinifera varieties and sylvestris plants were characterized using 261 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The study of the genetic diversity of this local germplasm, its population structure and kinship, all framed in their historical and geographical backgrounds, revealed a complex network of first-degree relationships, where only Iberian varieties are involved. Some Iberian genotypes, like Alfrocheiro (Bruñal, in Spain), Sarigo (Cayetana Blanca), Mourisco Branco (Hebén), Amaral (Caiño Bravo), and Marufo (Moravia Dulce) are ancestors of a considerable fraction of all the autochthonous analyzed varieties. A part of the diversity developed was mostly local in some cases as shown by the closeness of several varieties (Vinhos Verdes) to the wild cluster in different analyses. Besides, several evidences of introgression of domesticated germplasm into wild vines was found, substantiating the high risk of genetic contamination of the sylvestris subspecies. All these findings together to the known matching between the wild maternal lineage of the Iberian Peninsula and an important number of Portuguese grapevine varieties (chlorotype A), point out that some of these varieties derive, directly or indirectly, from originally local wild populations, supporting the possible occurrence of secondary events of local domestication, or, at least, of an introgression process of wild into cultivated grapevines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the temperate continental climate of Romania, very low temperatures during the winter (below -20ºC) can cause severe damage in several wine regions. The relatively high frequency of the low temperatures in winter allowed the classification of the autochthonous varieties of grapevine by their resistance/tolerance to frost. Thus, the varieties Aromat de Iaşi, Alidor, Ozana, Victoria, Transilvania, Băbească neagră, Cadarcă and Frâncușă are frost sensitive, while Silvania, Crâmpoşie selecționată, Şarba, Coarnă neagră, Fetească albă are resistant to winter frosts. The relatively high frequency of minimum temperatures harmful to grapevine during the dormant period, makes it necessary to assess the wintering behavior of vineyards. If during the reference period (1961-1990) the frequency of minimum temperatures below -20ºC in the Southern part of Romania (Bucharest) was 16.7%, in the period 1991-2018 it increased significantly to 39.3%. The higher frequency of minimum temperatures harmful to grapevine recorded in the main wine regions of the country (Hills of Moldova, Hills of Walachia and Oltenia, Transylvanian plateau) resulted in a significantly lower total wine production in the years 2005, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016. In a long-term experiment carried out on Fetească regală variety, a reduction of the average grape yield by 27-34% was found under the conditions of minimum temperatures of -20 ... -22ºC, in the dormant period. The paper reviews research on the physiological and biochemical aspects, frequency and intensity of winter frosts, the resistance/tolerance of the different varieties as well as factors that influence the resistance to frost of grapevine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cold-tolerance of 'Kristall' (Euro-Amur-American origin), 'Dostoyniy' and 'Krasnostop AZOS' (interspecific hybrids of Euro-American origin) grapevine varieties in the winter conditions of South Russia is characterised by the second (true dormancy) and third (induced dormancy) winter-resistance components. Here we used a complex approach to estimate plant adaptation to abiotic stress factors. We used the gravimetric method for humidity assessment and water content, spectral analysis for detection of the protein level and pigments and capillary electrophoresis to determine the level of carbohydrates, Krebs cycle organic acids, phenolcarbonic, ascorbic acids, and amino acids. The obtained results allow to suggest various mechanisms of adaptation of the studied varieties to the winter period stressors. The water content of shoots, levels of protein, amino acids, proline, sugars and the sum of phenolcarbonic acid and ascorbic acid are the most informative indicators of grape plants frost-resistance in the climate conditions of the Anapa–Taman region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrival in France of new varieties resistant to downy mildew and powdery mildew calls into question the aims of this “revolution” in a sector dominated by tradition. The proposed evaluation reviews the historical experience of cross-breeding programmes from an evolutionist standpoint before analysing the responses to the new technological paradigm of resistance to disease. Taking account of the time periods, dating their implementation and describing the opportunities open to winemakers, the paper revisits the scientific controversies, the institutional blockages to be eliminated, the means of recognition and the prospects.

The objective of this study was to determine the aromatic profile of red wines obtained from Rubin, Storgozia, Bouquet, Trapezitsa, Kaylashky Rubin and Pinot Noir varieties from the region of Central Northern Bulgaria. First five varieties are hybrids selected in the Institute of Viticulture and Enology (IVE). Pinot Noir was used for control. GC-FID study for determination of the aromatic profile of red wines from proposed varieties was conducted. Twenty four volatile compounds were identified: 9 esters, 8 higher alcohols, 1 aldehyde, 5 terpene alcohols. The presence of methyl alcohol in all wines were found. Its concentrations were normal for red wines. The highest total content of volatile compounds was found in the wine from Kailashky Rubin variety (693.97 mg.dm-3). The ester fraction was dominated by ethyl acetate. The highest total ester content was found in the wine from Pinot Noir variety (204.08 mg.dm-3). It was followed by the wine from Bouquet variety (195.75 mg.dm-3). Acetaldehyde was the major established aldehyde. It was found in the largest quantity in the wine from Trapezitsa variety (87.44 mg.dm-3). 2-methyl-1-butanol (active amyl alcohol) and 3-methyl-1-butanol (isoamyl alcohol) were found in the highest content from the higher alcohols fraction. The highest total content of higher alcohols was found in the wine from Rubin variety (379.38 mg.dm-3). Five terpene alcohols were identified in the wines. Geraniol was presented in all examined wines. An extensive aromatic characterization by gas chromatographic analysis of red wines obtained from grapevine varieties selected in the Republic of Bulgaria was carried out. The research proves that the red wines obtained in the conditions of Central Northern Bulgaria were characterized by a complex aromatic composition due to the presence of different esters, higher alcohols and terpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A collection of 317 table-grape accessions preserved in the Vitis Germplasm Bank at the Rancho de la Merced (IFAPA, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain) were genotyped at 20 microsatellite loci. A total of 264 different genotypes were obtained. Among them, 66 are presented for the first time. Twenty-one accession names are considered new synonyms, fourteen homonyms and 48 can be considered as "denomination mistakes" in the Rancho de la Merced collection [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the importance of wine authenticity specification has significantly influenced the world wine market. Nowadays, the importance of terroir is emphasised worldwide. Also in European countries, where varietal wines are produced predominantly, the wine authenticity is given an increasing attention. Anthocyanin pigments represent an important group of phenolic substances that are used for the evaluation of wine authenticity. In this study, altogether 17 varietal red wines originating from the village Dolní Kounice (wine-growing region Moravia, Czech Republic) are evaluated. The evaluation involved three varieties, viz. Blaufränkisch (Lemberger), Saint Laurent and Blauer Portugieser as well as three terroirs named Karlov, Šibeniční vrch and Na Nivách. Anthocyanin pigments in varietal red wines were estimated by means of the HPLC method. Thanks to the application of chemometric methods, it was possible to determine the grapevine variety and to classify red wines on the basis of delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (DpGl), malvidin-3-O-glucoside (MvGl) and delphinidin-3-O-acetylglucoside (DpGlAc) content. The terroir was discriminated on the basis of DpGl, MvGl and delphinidin-3-O-p-coumarylglucoside (DpGl-Cm) content.

The paper describes changes in the structure of varieties grown in the Czech Republic. The authors examine the development taking place in this domain within the last 14 years (i.e. from 1997 to 2010). The paper analyses the reasons of these changes and tries to describe the future development expected after 2010. The article also examines the cost and profitability of growing grapes and wine prices. The current production potential of the Czech Republic is 19 633.45 hectares of vineyards. As compared with 1960, the total acreage of vineyards increased nearly three times and the number of the most frequent varieties has also increased. As far as the percentages of Müller Thurgau, Green Veltliner, Italian Riesling and Sankt Laurent varieties is concerned, it is anticipated that their acreages will further decrease, whereas those of Rhein Riesling, Sauvignon, Lemberger and Zweigeltrebe are expected to grow. The results from the survey of consumer behaviour in the wine market in the CR point to the connection between the structure of the vineyards and consumer demand. Lemberger, Cabernet Sauvignon, Müller Thurgau, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Saint Laurent, Blue Portugal, Chardonnay, Riesling and Bohemia Sekt have been the most popular varieties of the market research.

The paper describes strategic changes in the structure of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) varieties grown in the Czech Republic. In 2004–2005, (i.e. after the admission of the Czech Republic into the EU) expenditures associated with restructuralisation and transformation of vineyards amounted for CZK 25,423 thous. The authors examine the development taking place in this domain within the last 50 years (i.e. from 1960 to 2010) and pay detailed attention to the period of 1989 to 2010. The paper analyses reasons of these changes and tries to describe the future development expected after 2010. The current production potential of the Czech Republic are 19,633.45 hectares of vineyards. For the time being, there are in average 1.07 wine growers per hectare of vineyards. As compared with 1960, the acreage of vineyards has doubled up and the number of the most frequent varieties has also increased. Within the period of 1989–1990, four varieties (i.e. Müller Thurgau, Green Veltliner, Italian Riesling and Sankt Laurent) occupied more than 60 % of the total vineyards area in the Czech Republic, whereas at present there are altogether 8 varieties (Müller Thurgau, Green Veltliner, Italian Riesling, Rhein Riesling, Sauvignon, Sankt Laurent, Blaufrankish, and Zweigeltrebe) at the nearly the same acreage.As far as the percentages of Müller Thurgau, Green Veltliner, Italian Riesling and Sankt Laurent varieties is concerned, it is anticipated that their acreages will further decrease, whereas those of Rhein Riesling, Sauvignon, Blaufrankish and Zweigeltrebe are expected to grow. The industry is under pressure of all Porter’s five forces of competition from external sources.

In recent years, the importance of wine authenticity specification has significantly influenced the world wine market. Nowadays, the importance of terroir is emphasised worldwide. Also in European countries, where varietal wines are produced predominantly, the wine authenticity is given an increasing attention. Anthocyanin pigments represent an important group of phenolic substances that are used for the evaluation of wine authenticity. In this study, altogether 17 varietal red wines originating from the village Dolní Kounice (wine-growing region Moravia, Czech Republic) are evaluated. The evaluation involved three varieties, viz. Blaufränkisch (Lemberger), Saint Laurent and Blauer Portugieser as well as three terroirs named Karlov, Šibeniční vrch and Na Nivách. Anthocyanin pigments in varietal red wines were estimated by means of the HPLC method. Thanks to the application of chemometric methods, it was possible to determine the grapevine variety and to classify red wines on the basis of delphinidin-3-O-glucoside (DpGl), malvidin-3-O-gluco-side (MvGl) and delphinidin-3-O-acetylglucoside (DpGlAc) content. The terroir was discriminated on the basis of DpGl, MvGl and delphinidin-3-O-p-coumarylglucoside (DpGl-Cm) content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental factors in a vineyard ecosystem form a complex of factors which are interdependent and can restrict, hinder or stimulate the growth and development of the vine. The singular or cumulative effects of climatic risks and identification of most vulnerable areas are basic criteria in elaborating and founding a decisional system for long term agro-climatic management. In the last years, the changes of the environmental factors have become more and more visible. The repercussions are registered in the vineyard system as well; the grape varieties alter their annual life cycle. In the northern area of Romania, an increase of the thermal regime and a decrease of rains led to a thermic and hydric stress of plants. The climatic changes of the last years, more or less at random, can seriously harm the homogeneity of viticultural biocenotic conditions, with unpredictable implications on the quantity and quality of the grape harvest. This study aims to contribute scientific and practical on how the climatic factors in the years 2012/2013, as atypical, influenced vegetative growth and further development of grapevines varieties 'Gelu' and 'Paula' compared with 'Aromat de Iaşi'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important aspect of wine geographic origin is related to grapevine varieties used for wine productionin specific winegrowing regions or countries. Grapevine germplasm is highly variable and classified into geographical groups. These classifications were recently confirmed by genetic studies, and further classified into genetic-geographic (GEN-GEO) groups. Secondary metabolites, namely polyphenolic and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have crucial role in winemaking industry due to their influence on quality, colour, and sensory properties of wine. The aim of the research was to investigate the polyphenolic and volatile profiles of 50 grapevine varieties from different GEN-GEO groups. The groups are C2 (varieites from Italy and France), C7 (varieites from Croatia), and C8 (varieites from Spain and Portugal). Polyphenolic compounds analysed belonged to the classes of anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, phenolic acids, and stilbenes. Classes of VOCs analysed were carbonyls, alcohols, acids, esters, and terpenoids. The most abundant class of polyphenols were anthocyanins, followed by flavan-3-ols and flavonols, while carbonyls were the most abundant class of VOCs, followed by alcohols and sesquiterpenes. Using discriminant analysis, the GEN-GEO groups were clearly separated by their polyphenolic and volatile profiles. In the case of polyphenolic profiles, compounds contributing the most to the discrimination of groups belong to classes of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, and flavonols. Furthermore, some of the compounds contributing to discrimination are found in relatively small amounts. Regarding the discrimination based on volatile profiles, GEO groups were discriminated by their overall volatile profile. C2 group contains higher amounts of carbonyl compounds and alcohols, while C8 group contains higher amounts of sesquiterpenes and acids. Group C7 is characterized by low content of VOCs. This data demonstrates that geographical origin, combined with genotype, also influences the overall polyphenolic and volatile profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat requirements for grapevine varieties have been widely used to characterize potential growing regions for viticulture. One of the most common landscape classifications is based on the Winkler Index (WI) values, defined as the total summation of daily average air temperature above 10 ^\circ\C from April 1 to October 31 in the Northern Hemisphere. Mapping WI is commonly performed by spatial interpolation of temperature data collected with weather station (WS) networks. However, in complex terrain such as the European Alps, these are usually irregularly and sparsely distributed or unavailable. This renders traditional geospatial interpolation approaches unreliable. As an alternative, thermal remote sensing data, which are intrinsically spatialized, can be used. The aims of this paper are the following: 1) to provide time series of WI-value maps from 2003 to 2010, by means of the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) land surface temperature (MOD11A1 and MYD11A1) daily data and 2) to calibrate them using ground truth data, collected by two WS networks, 3) leading to a classification of the study area into WI regions. WI values from WS data and from MODIS data exhibit a strong linear regression, close to the 1 : 1 prediction with an offset of 42.02 and a slope of 0.90. These coefficients have been used to calibrate the original map, before the following classification. The study area was found to have growing degree days that correspond to four Winkler Regions. The use of MODIS data represents a robust and straightforward method for selectively detecting areas suitable for grapevine varieties, particularly in regions with sparsely distributed WSs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper describes changes in the structure of varieties grown in the Czech Republic. The authors examine the development taking place in this domain within the last 14 years (i.e. from 1997 to 2010). The paper analyses the reasons of these changes and tries to describe the future development expected after 2010. The article also examines the cost and profitability of growing grapes and wine prices. The current production potential of the Czech Republic is 19 633.45 hectares of vineyards. As compared with 1960, the total acreage of vineyards increased nearly three times and the number of the most frequent varieties has also increased. As far as the percentages of Müller Thurgau, Green Veltliner, Italian Riesling and Sankt Laurent varieties is concerned, it is anticipated that their acreages will further decrease, whereas those of Rhein Riesling, Sauvignon, Lemberger and Zweigeltrebe are expected to grow. The results from the survey of consumer behaviour in the wine market in the CR point to the connection between the structure of the vineyards and consumer demand. Lemberger, Cabernet Sauvignon, Müller Thurgau, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Saint Laurent, Blue Portugal, Chardonnay, Riesling and Bohemia Sekt have been the most popular varieties of the market research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive renewal of grapevine plantations, implementation of EU regulations and reshaping of national viticulture and wine industries that take place at present in Romania require application of efficient methods for the accurate cultivars identification. The aim of this study is to identify and discriminate eleven native Romanian grapevine varieties with the goal to obtain a genotype-specific profile by using microsatellites, the undisputed markers of choice for grape identification and parentage analysis (Sefc et al. 2001 ). All the primers paires yielded clear and scorable amplified products and proved to be multi-allelic. The total number of different alleles per locus ranged from 4 (in VVMD24 and VVIQ52) to 10 (in VMCSG9, UDV125 and VMC5G6.1) with a total of 87 alleles considering all loci and a mean value of 7.9 alleles per locus. The microsatellite profile of the investigated cultivars showed a high level of genetic diversity among their flanking regions and all cultivars were found to have an unique allelic profile, The number of alleles detected with Romanian grapevine genotipes was very similar to those obtained with SSR microsatellites on European cultivars (Sefc et al., 2000). The expected heterozygosity (gene diversity) values were high for all DNA samples ranging from 0.60 at locus VVMD24 to 0.88 at locus VVMD28. The observed heterozygosity varied between 0.63 at locus VVMD24 to 1 at locus VVMD28 and was higher than the expected one at 6 out of 11 loci. All data obtained in this study provide valuable genetic information, especially in the absence of comprehensive studies on the Romanian grape cultivars. SSR markers proved to be powerful tool and very efficient for cultivar identification and analysis of their genetic structure. Genetic characterization of a larger number of authochtonous cultivars is the first step before to start further investigation to verify the homonymous and synonymous among Romanian cultivars and to reveal the genetic relationship between national and European grapevine germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]